Hit-And-Run Accidents In Middle Tennessee
Even though drivers are required to stop and exchange information after being involved in a collision, they do not always do so. Fortunately, people involved in hit-and-run accidents in Murfreesboro are not without recourse. Our dedicated lawyers at the Miller Injury Firm can provide essential legal guidance to help you recover the compensation you need after such a wreck.
What Should You Do After Being Involved In A Hit-And-Run?
There are four important steps you should take after being injured in a hit-and-run accident in Murfreesboro. The first is to take pictures and preserve as much evidence at the scene as possible. Oftentimes, evidence from an accident gets cleaned up, swept away, or the car gets sent to the junkyard. Taking pictures of where the signs are on the street, the location of your vehicle, and the location of the defendant driver is good evidence that should be preserved. The vehicle itself should also be preserved. Second, it is important to file a police report and note if and where there are any traffic cameras. The police report may be good to support the facts of your accident and give more detail into how the collision may have occurred. Third, you should seek out professional treatment if you have an injury as quickly as possible. This ensures that an insurance company or the other driver does not claim that you were not injured because you did not go to seek medical treatment promptly. Finally, you should consult with an attorney with the Miller Injury Firm who could help you with the above.
Unique Aspects Of Hit-And Runs
In Tennessee, a hit-and-run accident case has the potential for certain criminal liability. If a driver is involved in an accident, they are required to stop and exchange information and to seek or render aid to the person that was hit. Under state law, if a driver hits a vehicle or other object owned by a private citizen, there is an obligation to seek out and find who owns that vehicle or object. If they cannot find them, they should at least leave a note such that the owner can contact them. Notably, should a driver hit a government-owned object such as a stop sign or a traffic light, the driver has an obligation under Tennessee law to report the accident to the governmental authority that owns that property.
Can You Recover Damages If The Defendant Fled The Scene?
Even if the defendant fled the scene of the accident, you could still recover compensation for a hit-and-run collision in Murfreesboro. In Tennessee, you can recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are the financial losses you experienced. For instance, the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle, or lost wages from being out of work. These damages also include medical bills incurred as a result of the accident, as well as future medical bills and care that may be required. Noneconomic damages are pain and suffering and loss of consortium. Those deal with compensating you for the harm that you had suffered. Punitive damages can be tied to hit-and-run accidents if there is intentional, malicious, fraudulent or reckless conduct involved. Examples of intentional or malicious conduct include road rage or someone intentionally causing the accident.
A Middle Tennessee Attorney Could Help After A Hit-And-Run Accident
If you were struck by someone who then fled the scene of the wreck, you could still recover financial recourse for your losses. Our lawyers at the Miller Injury Firm are experienced in handling hit-and-run accidents in Murfreesboro. Call us today at 615-922-5693 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and begin discussing your case.